6:01am Friday 17th November 2006
SHAY GIVEN is in line for an immediate return for Newcastle United at Arsenal tomorrow but, over the coming weeks, it will be decided whether his unlucky understudy, Steve Harper, requires surgery.
Given made a comfortable return to action for the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday night when he kept a clean sheet in the 5-0 win over San Marino.
It was his first taste of action since requiring an operation on a perforated bowel he suffered at West Ham on September 23.
During that time Harper, with the exception of the UEFA Cup trip to Palermo, has performed admirably between the posts despite carrying a groin problem.
It would seem Harper's performance at Manchester City last weekend, when he made a couple of saves in the goalless draw, is to be his last for a while with the return of Given.
And, in light of the fact he has been suffering from a groin injury, there will now be a period of trying to ensure the problem is eradicated - although Roeder would not confirm if his run in the team was about to come to an end.
"I am just so happy to have Shay fit again," said the Newcastle boss, relieved after witnessing Given come though training unscathed yesterday.
"He has got through Wednesday well and he is back on the field again, which is good. He has also got through the preparation well this week for the Irish and that is a good sign also.
"Harper has done very well and he played ever so well against City. Unbelievably for him he has had a groin injury for five weeks so we will see how that develops, we are not sure if needs surgery."
While Given is set for a return to the fold when the team fly to London today, there is unlikely to be a place even on the bench for Albert Luque.
Barcelona have recently hinted they are monitoring the situation and Luque has set his heart on a move back to Spain when the transfer window reopens in January.
The 28-year-old, a £9.5m signing from Deportivo La Coruna in August last year, has been critical of his lack of opportunities and wants to escape from his torture on Tyneside.
But Roeder, knowing Shola Ameobi is to go to America on Sunday for surgery on a long-standing hip problem, wants to hear - and see - different things from Luque.
"Albert is not treated any differently to anyone else," said Roeder. "Everyone gets an equal opportunity here. It is a question of what I'm seeing on a daily basis.
"Albert has said he is looking to leave in January, but I would like to think he will train hard and fight for a first team place before that time, especially when Shola is about to be out for the long term.
"No-one could deny that technically he has a typical Spanish player's skill but the difficulty for him has been coming to terms with the Premiership."
That followed Luque's claims earlier in the day that he was 'not happy because I don't play' and that he misses playing 'each weekend because the coach does not give me opportunities'.
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